The Feminist Cross-Dresser
When: Friday, April 3, 1:30–2:30 pm
Where: San Martin Room
The feminist take on transgenderism in all its various guises varies widely from acceptance and understanding, through tolerance and puzzlement, to anger and horror. What’s more, this is also true for many TGs’ attitudes towards feminism. We will begin the discussion by reviewing several feminist’s views of transgenderism, both favorable and not. By trying to understand what is considered positive and what is considered negative we may obtain a deeper understanding of ourselves and how we are seen.
The other side of the coin is what it means for a cross dresser to be a feminist. In this part we will consider those aspects of our own lives as cross dressers that teach us something and give us insight into the role women must play. As cross dressers we often have insights into the world of the feminine that is unique, but we do not always reflect on it or take advantage of it. By thinking about such profound things as personal safety, and sexual harassment, or such mundane things as the discomfort of high heels, or the crowding of washrooms, we can better understand the realities that genetic women face regularly. This, in turn, can sensitize us to the calls of feminists for everything from pay equity to toilet equity.
Transgender & Personal Identity
When: Saturday, April 4, 10:30–11:30 am
Where: San Carlos Room
A transgendered person has often gone through a major change in personal identity - both internally and externally. This change includes the way in which the trans individual relates to the outside world, and how that world relates to the trans individual. This discussion will focus on the dynamics and implications of this change, and how it is experienced by different people. The differences between transsexuals who change permanently and cross-dressers who migrate back and forth will also form a focus. The discussion will form part of the presenter’s government funded ongoing research project.
